Larry Carlton and Steve LukatherNo Substitution - Live in
Osaka (Favored Nations, 2001)
Longtime L.A. studio guitarists and friends Larry Carlton and Steve
Lukather lead a quintet rounded out with keyboards, bass, and drums on
five instrumental tracks recorded live in Osaka, Japan.
No Substitutions opens with the Jeff Beck tune "The Pump,"
featuring repeated guitar solos over a long, static bass groove of
steady eighth notes. After a blissfully contrasting quiet middle
section, the song plods on to its total length of over 14 minutes. The
next track, a 12:8 shuffle called "Don't Give Up," is just as dull, only
in a different rhythm and with a blues chord progression. The slight
funk they insert into a slowed down cover of the Miles classic "All
Blues" just drags out a strident and tedious rendition of this tune,
that other rock guitarists like Gibb Droll have covered with passion and
delicacy.
The band feels rigid, particularly Chris Kent on bass, and the music
lacks any sense of interaction between the musicians that should be
present in a live situation. The two guitarists dominate the sound,
over keyboards mixed too low to add much tonal contrast, save a
refreshing piano solo in "Don't Give Up." When Carlton switches to a
clean tone, his subtle touch outclasses Lukather's distorted honk and
flashy chops, but most of his distorted lead playing feels just as
dreary as Lukather's.
No Substitutions sounds like a rock band trying to play in a jazz
or fusion format, with long vamps and solos going around the band. The
stiff interpretations of these extended jams and the focus on the dull
playing by both guitarists fail to convey any spark these musicians
might have had in this live setting. On the back of the record, Favored
Nations label president Steve Vai says "This is the kind of music that
real guitar lovers live for." Maybe, if you like repetitive guitar
solos over unimaginative grooves, but it isn't the kind of music that
real _music_ lovers live for.
Reviewed by Scott Andrews [scottandrews@his.com]
More Info:
http://www.favorednations.com/artists/larryluke/carlton_lukather.html
Lineup:
Larry Carlton - Guitar
Steve Lukather - Guitar
Gregg Bissonette - Drums
Chris Kent - Bass
Rick Jackson - Keyboards